Anti-pig-rooting device.



PATENTED APR. 9, 1-907.

7 T. W. BOX. ANTI PIG ROOTING D'EVIGE 'AP-PLIOATION FILED AUG. 2. 1906.

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unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WILLIAM BOX, OF PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND.

ANTI sPIG-BOOTING DEVICE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed August 2, 1906. Serial No. 328,918.

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in antirooting devices for pigs. i

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily applied to the nose or snout of a pig and which when being applied will cause the animal comparatively little pain and which after being applied will effectively prevent the pig from rooting, but which will not in any manner interfere with feeding or otherwise inconvenience or annoy the animal.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the pigs head, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified form of the device.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 denotes the antirooting device, which is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprises a plate 2, which is bent slightly outward at its upper edge, forming a lever 3. The plate 2 is also bent inwardly adjacent to its lower edge to form a lever 4, the plate being thus substantially in the form of a compound curve.

Formed integrally with each side edge of the plate are rearwardly-bent upwardly-curved attaching-prongs 5, said prongs being provided at their upper ends with sharpening points 6, by means of which they are inserted through the cartilage at the upper portion of the pigs snout, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. After the prongs 5 have thus been inserted through the snout of the pig the outer endsof the prongs, which project above the snout, are bent or coiled, as shown at 7, thereby preventing the withdrawal of said prongs from the nose of the pig.

In applying the device to the pigs nose the prongs 5 are left sufficiently long to provide a space between the inner side of the plate 2 and the outer end of the pigs nose,

thus preventing the plate from interfering with the pigs'breathing. Should the pig attempt to root after the device has been applied to its nose, the upper edge or lever 3 of the plate 2 will come into engagement with the ground, thereby rocking the plate and pressing the lower inwardly-curved edge or lever 4 into forcible engagement with the pigs snout, thereby compressing or muffling the pigs nose, which will effectively prevent rooting or grubbing up of the ground.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown a slightlymodiiied form of the invention. In this instance the device consists ofthe plate 8,- on

.the upper edge of'which is formed a centrally-disposed inwardly or rearwardly and upwardly bent single prong 9, adapted to be inserted through the cartilage of the snout in the same manner. as described. in connection with the first figures of the drawings. The upwardly-projecting end of the prong is coiled in the same manner to prevent the withdrawal of the device. The plate 8 is provided on each side of the prong 9 with upwardly-extending projections 10, the upper ends of which are curved outwardly and bent or coiled upon themselves, as shown at 12. The lower edge of the plate 8 is curved or bent inwardly, as shown at 13, said outwardly-curved projections 10 and the inwardly-curved lower edge 13 operating in the same manner as the lever edges 3 and 4 of the plate 2. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.) This latter form of the invention is intended to be used on small animals.

It will be noted that there are no rough or sharp cutting edges on the invention which mightinjure or unnecessarily annoy the animal, and by forming the device from a single piece of sheet metal the same may be stamped out and inexpensively produced in the form shown in either figures of the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An antirooting device for pigs comprising a plate having an outwardly-curved upper edge and an inwardly-curved lower edge, and means whereby said plate is. attached to the nose of the animal, substantially as described.

2; An antirooting device for pigs comprising a plate having an upper outwardly-curved portion and a lower inwardly-curved portion and integrally formed attaching prongs adapted to be inserted through the cartilage on the nose of the animal.

3. An antirooting device for pigs comprising a plate having an outwardly-curved up- THOMAS WILLIAM BOX.

Witnesses:

SIMON STEPHENS, EDWARD YoUNGs. 

